Politics & Government

Dolphin Die-Off Gets Federal Designation

Feds: 124 dolphins have died coast-wide since July; New Jersey second to Virginia in strandings thus far

The federal agency tasked with overseeing fisheries policy will step in to investigate a recent die-off of bottlenose dolphins between New York and Virginia.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) fisheries division has formally declared the die-off of 124 dolphins an "unusual mortality event," triggering a federal response which could include funding for investigative teams and support agencies to determine its cause.

"There are no smoking guns," said Susan Barco, research coordinator and senior scientist at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. "We have only seen three fresh animals; most of the animals have been decomposed."

The bulk of the dolphins that have become stranded – 89 in July and 35 so far in August – were in Virginia, mainly on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. The ocean beaches of the Jersey Shore were a close second, data showed. All of the dolphins, including seven that were still alive when found, have died or were euthanized.

New Jersey has seen more than 20 dolphin strandings so far this year, compared to less than five in all of 2012.

Investigators are looking into a number of factors, including environmental causes such as water quality, to determine the reasons behind the die-off, however their efforts are centering on morbillivirus, a naturally occurring virus in dolphin populations, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The virus was linked to the deaths of 90 dolphins in 1987 off New Jersey, according to DEP figures. So far, one dolphin in New Jersey tested positive for morbillivirus.

In the 1987, the die-off lasted through March of 1988, said Teri Rowles, national marine mammal stranding coordinator for NOAA Fisheries.

"Morbilivrius, we know historically, has been the cause of large epidemics of dolphins across the globe," said Rowles.

Thus far, the dolphins that have been affected have mainly been those that live in inshore waters, said Lance Garrison, an NOAA Fisheries research biologist. A population of dolphins that remain offshore in water more than 50 meters deep have not seemed to have been affected.

The dolphins which can currently be found in New Jersey's waters are part of a norther migratory group that will eventually head south to the waters off the Carolinas in late September and early October, said Garrison They will replace a southern migratory population that is currently living off Virginia and in Chesapeake Bay.

"Determining which of those stocks are primarily affected will be part of the ongoing investigation," Garrison said.

For now, experts are advising those who encounter a stranded or deceased dolphin to stay away from it and call a federal stranding hotline or a local stranding agency.

"We will be conscious of looking for and detecting any pathogens or toxins that could be concerned to people, whether it be on the beach or in seafood," said Rowles. "Marine mammals do share pathogens with people, as well as dogs and cats."

New Jersey residents who come upon a dead or dying dolphin are being asked to contact the Brigantine-based Marine Mammal Stranding Center's 24-hour hotline at 609-266-0538.


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